Australia to impose sanctions on Iranian entities

Melbourne: Australia on Tuesday said it will impose its own sanctions against Iran to persuade and pressurise it to reverse its nuclear programme, on the heels of fresh penalties imposed by the UN Security Council.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Australia will impose sanctions on a bank, a shipping line, and an individual involved in a construction company -- all entities somehow linked to the nuclear programme.

"These new measures put Australia at the forefront of efforts to persuade Iran to reverse its current path of confrontation with the international community," Smith said.

In an official statement, the minister said Resolution 1929 reflected the international community`s deep concerns about Iran`s nuclear programme, in particular its failure to comply with previous UN Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions.